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Articles by Bob Pank#

So you think you know Flash?

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So you think you know Flash?It is becoming widely accepted that HTML5 will eventually replace Flash as the platform for rich content and video on connected devices, but how can video publishers make the leap and avoid the pitfalls?David Springall, YospaceBack in the early nineties, when what few websites existed were almost completely static, a com...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 July 2012

More Power for Camera Accessories

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Reliable, durable and plentiful battery power is essential for broadcast acquisition. The power demands of modern high-definition camera set-ups are now greater than ever. As the number of camera accessories increases so do the demands for battery power. In addition to power-hungry cameras, there is also a greater number of camera accessories avail...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 July 2012

The Modern Solution - Just Add Carbon!

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Problem. Traditionally, getting in and among the action and seeing the true grit, determination and suffering of sporting competitors - be it filming something such as International Ironman competitions with cross terrain transitions from land through to water and back to land - speeds from a sprint, to a swim to a high speed cycle, Formula One pit...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 July 2012

A live video streaming advocate

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As you may or may not know, I’m a bit of a live video streaming advocate. I love the idea of being able to distribute high quality content via the internet, without the need for huge budgets, licensing, and all the hassle involved more conventional means. I do a lot of live streaming from small venues, and by their very nature is difficult to fit m...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 July 2012

Cloudy NAB

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Those who arrived a couple of days before the NAB show opened had the unusual experience of cool weather, heavy grey skies and rain. The clouds had arrived in Las Vegas. By the time the show opened they had gone but there was still a big one in the North Hall where I experienced my very first ‘Cloud Computing Pavilion’. It was not the structure I’d...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Gamut errors: Who cares?

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Gamut errors are the most common video signal problems. This is because colour television or cinematography depends on being able to represent every pixel on the screen in terms of red, green and blue. We want to deliver perfect RGB signals representing all the possible colours in our pictures. Virtually all display technologies use RGB primary col...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

NETWORKING AND THIRD PARTY CONTROL

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Since the advent of digital technologies, the way audio and video is controlled and transported around broadcast facilities has been constantly evolving in the search for greater efficiencies and improved workflows. Today, broadcasters are demanding more and more versatility and integration from their equipment, and in turn, the capabilities now av...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Problems with mains hum and got no space?

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There can’t be many of us who have managed to avoid an annoying mains hum at some point or other in our careers. You have just finished a set up on location with a long cable run back to the OB van, you sit down to monitor the signal and there it is. It’s not the end of the world but you do now face rummaging through your tool box to find an isolat...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Waste not, want not

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One of the most interesting comments I heard at NAB this year was from Gary Greenfield, the CEO of Avid. Picking up the topic of making the most of content across multiple platforms, he said “nothing is left on the cutting room floor any more”. That started me thinking about how technology has allowed us to get profligate, and whether we are now at...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Goes One Step Beyond In The Competitive Loudness Metering...

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Over the last few years audio loudness has been a hot topic for the broadcast industry and one of the key issues faced by engineers in control of audio output. Significant differences in volume have led to many complaints from viewers who don’t like having to reach for the remote every time they change channel or are faced with a deafening commerci...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Ask the Experts with Dolby

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Q: Dolby has recently been making waves in imaging with its PRM-4200 Professional Reference Monitor, but isn’t Dolby an audio company?Dolby has been involved with imaging technology for years, beginning with Dolby® Digital Cinema in 2005, then launching Dolby 3D for the cinema in 2007, and then in 2010 we introduced the Dolby PRM-4200 Professional...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Editors Keys Portable Vocal Booth

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More manufacturers these days are sending us kit to try out and for this audio issue of tv-bay we managed to get our hands on the 2nd Edition Portable Vocal Booth Pro 2 which comes complete with floor and desk stands options. We would normally find an expert in the particular field of the product but this was perfect timing as we’ve been meaning to...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Vegas Baby!

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So last month was NAB in Las Vegas, and I got to go!Now I'd never been to the States before. I really didn't know what to expect. Other than not being allowed in bars or casinos as I'm under 21. And trucks on the road, larger meal portions and a favourable exchange rate. Thankfully I'm used to long flights, and after establishing that I could take...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

Say again? What is loudness?

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Loudness is making a lot of noise these days, but what does it really mean? There is certainly no shortage of gurus who are happy to posit answers, but are they addressing the right questions?For instance, much has been made of the EBU’s recent Loudness Metering specification (EBU Tech 3341). But it has to be said that the EBU only makes recommenda...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012

SOCIAL FINANCE AND LAS VEGAS : A WORLD APART OR ARE THEY...

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Peter Savage draws parallels between funding for social benefit and the razzamatazz of NAB in Las Vegas. Last month we discussed crowdfunding in the context of TV and film production. It’s funding again this month because, during our ‘Look, Listen, Experience’ speaking tour, several people asked me whether social and/or community funding are potent...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 June 2012